Media display apparatus



March 5, 1963 Filed March 13, 1961 J. G. CLARY MEDIA DISPLAY APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l J. G. CLARY MEDIA DISPLAY APPARATUS March 5, 1963 5 sheets-she@it 2 Filed March 13, 1961 March 5, 1963 J. G. cLARY MEDIA DISPLAY APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 13, 1961 rates This invention relates to apparatus for pacing and/ or training workers in performing relatively complicated tasks which include a large number of operations.

Considerable difiiculty has been experienced heretofore in training worners to assemble and wire relatively complicated electronic equipment such as electronic computers, data processing systems, etc., especially in mass production. This is so because of the large number of parts involved and the maze of vwiring connections generally found in such equipment.

lt has been discovered that the best way to overcome the above problems is to breal-i down the procedure of assembling and wiring into sets of simple instructions so that the worker has only to consider one or, at most, a few steps at a time.

lt is also desirable, in mass production procedure, to keep track of the workers progress so that he and/or his supervisors can be apprised of his speed `and eihciency at all times.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a pacing and/or training apparatus of the above type wherein a complicated series of operations is broken down into relatively simple sets of instructions which the operator can follow at a time.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above type in which the worker is timed in accordance with the particular step or series of steps which he is currently working on.

Another object is to provide a pacing and/or training apparatus which induces the worker to perform tasks at a predetermined rate of speed.

Another object is to provide a pacing and/or training apparatus of the above type in which the required elapsed period of time for performing each of a series of instructions can be readily changed.

A further object is to provide a pacing and/ or trai apparatus which sets off an alarm if the worker fails to perform required operations in a given period of time.

Another object is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive pacing and/or training apparatus of the above type.

The manner in which the above and other obiects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a machine embodying a preferred form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the card stacking and advancing means and is taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 4.

PEG. 3 is a schematic view of the clutch control circuitry.

HG. 4 is a sectional elevational view illustrating the timing means associated with the cards and is taken substantially along the line -t-d of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view showing the clutch arrangement.

FIG. 6 is an extended plan View of the gear train for driving the timing racl: and is taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view illustrating the driving connection between the motor and the rack advancing and card advancing means.

arent FIG. 8 is a View illustrating an alternate form of storing device for storing the cards after use.

FIG. 9 is a perspective partial sectional view showmg the card detenting means of the alternate form shownY in FIG. 8.

FlG. l() is a transverse sectional view through the clutching arrangement and is taken substantially along the line lF-il of PEG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, it can be seen that the present invention is embodied in a cabinet l1 having a removable container l2 mounted therein directly behind a viewing window l. The latter is mounted in a front panel of the cabinet ll.

The container l2 is divided into two chambers i4 and l5 which are enclosed on three sides while the fourth side, the side adjacent the window 13, is open. The chamber l is for the storage of cards i6 yet to be viewed in the window 13, and the chamber l5 is for the storage of cards lo having .already been viewed. The chambers are separated by a plate 29 suitably connected to the three sides of the container l2.

T he cards lo have printed thereon a list of instructions to be followed by an operator, such as those illustrated in FIG. 4, for the wiring of electrical circuitry. Also printed on the card l along the lefthand side thereof is a timing scale 17 representing a series of time intervals which, in the present embodiment, represent two minute intervals, but could be varied to represent any desired length of time, as will appear later.

An electrically conductive control mark 19 is positioned adiacent the scale 1.7 at .a point representative of the time considered appropriate to complete the instructions of the respective card 16. The marl; is placed on the card with a relatively soft pencil, such as an LEM. Electrographic pencil, to make a good conductive contact.

A rack 2i, FlG-S. 3 and 4, of plastic or other insulating material, is slideably mounted on a pair of pins 22 and 23, rigidly lined to a support plate Z4, and has an extension arm 25 which carries a set of spaced flexible contacts 26. The contacts Z6 will control certain functions of the machine upon establishing a circuit through thc niark i9, as will be described later. The contacts 26 are 'electrically connected to respective ones of a set of conductive strips 1.55 and and a set of brushes 157 and 158.

Fthe drive assembly for the rack 2l comprises a pivotal train of gears generally indicated `at 27 which, at one time, mesh with the larger element of a compound gear Z8. The smaller element of the compound gear 2S meshes with the larger element of a second compound gear 2%, and the smaller element of the second compound gear 29 meshes with the rack 2l for driving the rack in a downward direction. The compound gears 23 and 2@ are rotatably mounted on respective xed cross shafts 3l and 32 mounted in support plates 24 and 33.

The pivotal train of gears 27 comprises a gear 35 mounted through a pin and slot connection 232 to a shaft 34. The gear 3S is connected through a friction device, to be described later, to the driven side of a cyclic clutch assembly 36 supported on a shaft Si?. The latter shafts 3l? and 24 are axially aligned `and each is suitably supported in a bearing mounted in respective support plates 2241 and 33. .The shaft- 36 has a pilot bearing portion .ser rotatable 1n a bearing formed in the shaft 3d.

The clutch Se is normally maintained in disengaged condition, as shown in FIG. 5, by a clutch dog 153 fulcrumed at ld and urged into engagement with the periphery of the clutch by a spring E55.

1 lkotation of the gear 3S, upon engagement of the crutch .56, drives a gear 35 through an idler gear 37. The said gears 37 and 38 arerotatably mounted on respective pins el and Ai2 which are attached to an arm d3, the

BC@ esame-s niet. s, reas contacts26. are shorted across by the mark 19,. at which time disengagement of the clutchY 36 is eiected through circuitry to` be described later.

An eleetromagnet46.isr somounted on the support plate 24. as to, 'beY positioned beneath an extension 47 ofthea-rm 43, .the extension thereby acting as the armature for the magnet 46.

After therclutch 36 is disengaged, current is applied through the magnet 46.thereby rocking-the arm 43 in a clockwise. direction, demeshing, the gear 38 from the gear 28 andV meshing it with a gear 48. The latteris rota-tably mounted on -a fixed shaft 150v and meshes with the rack. 21. Thus, when the clutch is again engaged to drive the Y. gear 37 clockwise, this second gear train will drive the-V rack 21 up to its home position at a rate. approximately- 12, times, faster thanA thev rack originally descended, it being noted that this ratio is for disclosure purposes only andV that different ratios maybe useddepeuding upon.

the desired time requirements. Y

To prevent jamming of the rack or stripping ofthe teeth thereon due to a malfunction of themachine or an overthrow of the rack on its vreturn movement, there lis provided a friction clutch 227 between the driven shaft 34 of the gear train 27 and the driven side of the clutch 36 which ismounted on thedrive shaftl 30.

The` driven side of the friction clutch 227 comprises'a disc 228 which is mounted on a hub 230 of Vthe gear 35.

The disc 228 and gear 35 are connected to. the shaft 34V for axial movement through the pin and .slot connection 232 and are normally urged to the left, FIG. 10, by a compression spring 233 positioned between'a ange 234 mounted on the shaft 34 and the gear 35.

The driving side of the friction clutch comprises a disc 229 having a suitable friction facing thereon. The disc is mounted on a' hub 235 of the driven side of the clutch assembly 36 so that, should stoppage of the rack occur before disengagement of the clutch- 36, the disc 228, through the gear 35, Iwill tend to compress the spring 233, thereby allowing the disc 229 and the clutch 36 to rotate to its disengaging position without furtherv driving of the gear 35.

It should be noted that the `slot for connecting the gear 35 tothe shaft isonly slightly elongatedso that the gear 35 can move axially but only to a certainextent, therebyV retaining it in mesh with the gear train 27.

A pair of picker arms 49, FIGS. 2 and 4, are securely attached to the opposite ends of a rod 51, the rod being pivotally mountedV iny a pair of armsr52a and 52h at the forward end of a bifurcated lever 52 which ispivotally mounted at its opposite end on a cross shaft 53.

A second cyclic clutch assembly 54 is mounted ona continuously rotating shaft 55, juxtaposed tothe lever 52, and carries on its driving side a pin 57. The clutch is normally maintained in disengaged condition by a clutch dog 59 spring urged -int'oengagement with the periphery thereof. The pin 57, being mounted at right angles to the disc 56 and the lever 52, passes through a slot 5S in the lever, so that upon rotation of the clutch disc 56, the lever 52 will be reciprocated and the picker arms 49 having yshoulders 61 will engage slots 62 in the foremost card 16and pull such card from the chamber lftrdown to the Y front card position ofthe chamber 1,5.

mentioned clutch assemblies 36 and I54 are basically similar to the clutch shown and -described in Patent No. 2,515,692 issued to R. E. Boyden et al. on July 18, 1950, except that the presen-t clutches are driven by their respective shafts when engaged whereas the clutch in the above patent drives its shaft when engaged.

The cardsY in bothchambers 14 and 15 are urged to- Ward the front or open ends by compression springsy 63. and 64 acting against respective hollow blocks 65 and 66 which are slidable in Itheir respective chambers.

The pickers 49 are. urged in a counterclockwise direction #by a torsion spring 67, FIG. 4connected betweenv the rod 51 and the lever 52 to thereby maintain constant pressure against the cards so that the shoulder 61 on each picker will engage the cards and a second protruding:

carriesfa worm 71 which drives atworm gear 72 attached.

to` a Shaft73.V A drive pulley 74, FIG. 7, on thel shaft 73 drivespulleys, 76 and 77 on the aforementioned shafts 30 and' 55, respectively, throughan endless belt 75.

lFollowing, through an operation of the machine, the

operator rst closes a yswitch 81, FIGS. 1 and 3, which`Y completes a circuit path from one sideof a power supply 151, through line S2, a rst vset of normally open spring` contacts 84 (normally closed by therackA 21 when in its home position),r line `85, coil 86 ofa self-.locking relay 80, av second set of normally closed contacts 87 of a relay` 102, the normally closed side of a switching con-u tact SS, the magnet 89 of theclutch 36, a third set of normally closed contacts 91, line 92, switch 81, motor 69 and rheos-tat 119 to the opposite side ofthe powerY supply. The -completiou of this circuit causes the motor to operate and energizes 4the magnet 89, thereby releasing the clutch d-og 153-to cause engagement of the clutch 36 tov drive the rack 21` downwardly at a rate of speed determined `by the setting of the'rheostat 119.

It should be noted at this point that as the rack moves downwardly, a. shoulder 94 ofthe rack moves away from the spring contacts 84 allowing them to open, andV at the. same Itime allowing a set of contacts 95 to close. However, opening of the contacts 84 wil-l not open the afore-V mentioned circuit' because when the coil 86 was euergized, as described above, it closed the contacts of the `self-locking relay 80, thereby shorting out over a line 93 to line 82 and eliminating the need for the contacts 84.

The rack will continue'moving downwardy until the open contacts 26 are shorted across by the control mark 19 which completes a circuit from one side of .a power supply 114, through line 96, brush 157, strip 155, contacts 26, strip 156, brush 15S, line 99, a coil 161 of a relay 102, leads 1580- (see also FIG. 2) of an electromagnet -for clutch 54, and back to the oppositeside of the power supply. The completion of this circuit after the pre-- determined length of time determined 4by the positioning of the mark 19 energizes the coil 101 to open the normally closed contacts 87 of the relay 102 which opensthe circuit to the clutch magnet 89, thereby disengaging the clutch 36 and stopping the downwardY movement of the rack 21.l

Since the initial downward movement of the rack closed the normally closed contacts 95, a circuit is now completed through the line 82, contacts 95, line 193, magnet 46, line 104, coil 105 ofY a vself-locking relay 106, line 107, now closed contacts 108, and out a line 109 to 'the liney 92. Ther completion of thisV circuit energizes the coil 16S closing the contacts ofthe self-locking relay 106, allowingV the circuit to short across to the line 92 over aA -line 111.

The albove described circuit also energizes the magnetA 46 which rocks the arm 43 clockwise demesbing the gear 38 from the gear 28 and meshing it with'the gear 43. As

aora-.71a

the arm t3 pivots clockwise, it will lalso break the contacts 8S and make contacts 112 which complete a circuit from the line S2 .through a line 113, contacts i12, clutch magnet $9, normally closed contacts 91 to the line 92, lthereby energizing the magnet 89 to eiect engagement of the clutch 35, thereby causing the gear 43 to drive the rack back to its home position.

Since the magnet l for controlling the picker arm clutch 54 is in series with the coil lill, closing of the circuit across the contacts 26 by the conducting line 19 will effect engagement of the clutch S4 for one cycle to operate the picker arms i? and thus bring the foremost card l5 from viewing position in chamber als down lto viewing position in the chamber E5. This will enable a new set of instructions to be viewed in the upper half of the window 13.

if the operator had not quite finished with the previous card, it still can be viewed in the lower half of the window 3.3.

Should an operator fall behind during an operation, he merely moves a lever R15, FIG. l, to stop position vhich opens the normahy closed contacts 'i, FIG. 3', thereby opening the circuit to the magnet v-.fhich will disengage the clutch .36, stopping the machine. The opening of the contacts 9?, will also close a set of contacts lio to ignite a lamp H7, thereby indicating to an instructor or a supervisor when the operator is having more than an rvcrage amount of trouble.

To compensate for the variations in diderent operators speeds, there is positioned on the side of the cabinet l1 a knob lid which controls the variable rheostat il?, FiG. 3. This rheostat controls the speed of the motor 69 so that an opera-tor or his instructor may se the knob at the calibration most suited to the individual. Any adjustment in speed or" the motor, in effect, changes the increments of time represented by timing marks i7 on the cards.

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate an alternate form of the invention wherein the picker elements 43a are each of a two piece construction having an upper arm 121 for drawing the foremost card lea from the chamber l-a down to .the chamber a `and a lower arm 122 mounte on a rod 51a -for concurrently drawing the foremost card from the chamber l'a to a deposit container 23. The two arms 12,1 and 12,2 are pivotally connected through a pin 124:, and a torsion spring E25 tends to pivot the arm iii countercloclnvise about the pin. A second spring 67a, similar to spring 67 of PEG. 4, is connected between lever 52a and arms E22, thereby applying a pressure against the cards 15a.

The chamber i541 in this form of the invention has a guide plate 32.6 which acts as a baclrstop for the cards when they are located in the lower position of the View# ing window.

The separator plate Zita in this form of the invention protrudes beyond the plate l2@ FG. 9, an amount equal to approximately the thickness of a card Ma and is notched at l2? to allow a shoulder at the upper end of each ot the pickers to engage the top edge of the card. The protrusion of the plate j-fz prevents the card from being pushed upward by the friction of the pickers as they are returned to their neutral position. Also, the upper end of each ot lthe arms 122 has a shoulder 159 thereon engageable with the top edge of a card in the lower chamber 25a.

The container 123 is comprised of a sloping table 125 slideably retained lbetween a pair of plates 29 and i3 suitably attached to the machine base, The table 12 is retained in its upper position by a guide stern 132 which is attached to the table at one end and sldeably guided at its opposite end.

The stern i3?. has a or" ratchet teeth 133 which cooperate with an electromagnet i3d and pawl 35 formin 7 part of a suitable escapernent means to step the table downwardly once during each machine cycle, Ithe spacset ing of the teeth 133 preferably vbeing equivalentto the'I foremost cards from both chambers, and since the mag-l net 134 is in series with the magnet H561, it also will be energized by the pulse to lower the table one step throughthe escapement means, or one cardV thickness, so that as the picker arms 122 draw the lower card lea to acertain point, the card will drop free of the arm and fall,

onto a slide E36 which guides the card into the container 123. At the same time, the picker arms 121 will slide the front card in chamber lea down into its new position in the chamber ida.

The advantage of this modification over the previously described storage means is that the cards will 4be stacked in order for immediate re-use.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be noted that the picker arm 49, situated on the left-hand side of the machine, is extended up toward the -top of the machine as shown at d. Thus, when an operator has iinished with a particular set of cards, he merely grips `a handle 137 of the container l2 and lifts the container up slightly so that he can reach in with a linger and pull baci; on the extension 164) so that the shoulder 6l of the arms 49 will not engage or tear a card Ias the container is removed from the cabinet l1. Y

Although the invention has been described herein in detail and certain specic terms and languages have been used, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, the term card in the claims is intended to defineV any thin, media-bearing element whether exible or inexible. Y

Having thus described the invention, -what is desired to secure 'by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination of a container containing a plurality of information-bearing cards arranged to successively move into a viewing position, means on each of said cards for indicating a predetermined elapsed period of time, and means controlled by the said last mentioned means on a card which is in viewing position for locating anotherv of said cards into viewing position.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprisingthe combination of a container containing a plurality ofy information-bearing cards arranged to successively move `into a viewing position, control means on each of said cards for indicating by its location relative to a reference point a predetermined elapsed periodV of time, sensing means movable along the said card which is in viewing position, and means controlled by said sensing means' upon sensing said control means onsaidlast mentioned card ,for moving said last mentioned card out of said viewing position.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination of a container for carrying a plurality of information-bearint7 cards, one of said cards being in a viewing position, electro-conductive means on each of said cards indicating by its location relative to a reference point a predetermined elapsed period of time, control means including a normally open circuit effective upon closing to move another of said cards into said viewing position; a circuit closing device in said circuit, and means for moving said device over the said card which is in viewing position, said device being effective to complete said circuit upon engaging said electro-conductive means.

4. Media display apparatus comprising the combination of a container for carrying a plurality of stacks of information-bearing cards, the foremost card of each stack `being visible through a viewing opening in said container, means on each of saidv cards for indicating a pre-v determined elapsed period of timer and means controlled sensing means movable from said reference-point along. the said card which is in -viewing position, and means,

controlled by said sensing means upon sensing the said control means on said lastvmentioned card for moving said foremost` card-froml said stackv tot present: the' next successive card in said viewingposition.

6. Media displayapparatus comprising theA combination of a container for carrying av plurality ofY stacked4 information-bearing cards,V 'theA foremost of said' cards'- being arrangedinv aiviewing position, control means on.

each of vsaidv cards for-indicating :by its locationvrela'tive to'- aI reference point a predeterminedeiapsed period of time, sensing meansfo'r said controlf means,` means: for advancing said' sensingk meansuat' a predeterminedurate: of speedfrom said reference'point along the said foremost' card, means controlled by said sensing means upon sens-y ing thev said control means on said foremost card for moving said' foremost card from said stack to` present the next successive cardv in said viewing position and -f'or returning saidY sensing means to said reference point, andv means responsive to said return ofV said sensing means for causing operation of saidv advancing means.

47f. Medial display apparatus 'according to claim 6 comprising means for changing/said predetermined rate of speed whereby to change saidelapsed period of time.

Q'. Mediadisplay apparatus comprising the combination of a container carryingy a plurality of stacked information-bearing cards, the foremost of ysaid cards Ibeing arranged in a viewing position, means on eacli of said cards for indicatingv a predetermined elapsed period of time by its location relative to a reference'point, sensing'means for said indicating means, means for advancing said sensing means at a predetermined r-ate of speed Ifrom said reference point along the ysaid foremost card, means controlled by said sensing means upon sensing theA saidl indicating means on saidY foremost card for moving said foremost card from said stack tor-a second viewing positionand to present the next successive card on said stack in said viewing position, further means controlled byfsaidr sensing means upon sensing said indicating means onsaidf foremost cardl for returning said sensing means toV said reference point, 'and means responsivev to said return of said sensing means for causing operation ofv said advancing means.

9.' Media display apparatus according to claim 8Y comprising -mean-sffor.-selectively disabling said advancingvv means,v an. alarm device, and means responsive to, said; disabling device upon operation thereofV for, causine; operation ofl said alarm device.

10. Media displayapparatus comprising the-combina: tion of a container. carrying a plurality of stacked information-bearing cards, the foremost of said cardsbeing arranged in'viewing position, means on each of said cards indicating -a predetermined elapsed` period of;

time by its location relative to a reference point; means; including a liirst' clutch for moving said -foremost card; from said stack whereby to present the next successiveV card in said viewing position; sensing means foi. said inf dicating means, means including. a lsecond clutch and a. irst gear trainrfor advancingsaid. sensing means at a predetermined rate of speed from said reference point.,

alongY the-said foremost card; means including said second' clutch and. a. second gear trainv for returning said' sensing means to said reference point; means responsive.'-

to said sensing means. upon sensing said indicating means for causing engagementof said` first; clutch 'and said; second .clutch and. fori enablingsaid second-g gear trairn; and. means'.` responsive to said sensing means; upon return thereof to said reference point causingrengagement of; said .secondi clutch and for enabling; said irst: gear'V train;

.11. Media display apparatus comprising the, combinartion of, av containerA carryingV a plurality of information bearing cards, one of said cards beingv located in a viewing position, means on each of said cards indicating a predetermined elapsed period of time. by its location rela@Vr the indicating means on said card in said viewing posi'-` tion for causing engagement of said irst clutch and said, second vclutch and for enablingv said second gear train, and means responsive to said lsensing means upon return thereof to said referencefpoint for causingv engagement of said second clutch and for enabling said .first gear train.

References Cited in the file of this; patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,696,688 V` Dec. 14, i954,

2,957,259 Steinman Oct. 25, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS,

480,229y Great Britain Feb. 18, 1933 96,024 Sweden June 2O,v 1939 

6. MEDIA DISPLAY APPARATUS COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A CONTAINER FOR CARRYING A PLURALITY OF STACKED INFORMATION-BEARING CARDS, THE FOREMOST OF SAID CARDS BEING ARRANGED IN A VIEWING POSITION, CONTROL MEANS ON EACH OF SAID CARDS FOR INDICATING BY ITS LOCATION RELATIVE TO A REFERENCE POINT A PREDETERMINED ELAPSED PERIOD OF TIME, SENSING MEANS FOR SAID CONTROL MEANS, MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID SENSING MEANS AT A PREDETERMINED RATE OF SPEED FROM SAID REFERENCE POINT ALONG THE SAID FOREMOST 